What To Know About The Nurse Corps Scholarship Program

The HRSA Nurse Corps Scholarship Program pays your nursing-school tuition, required fees, and other reasonable costs, plus a monthly stipend, in exchange for a commitment to work at least two years full-time at a healthcare facility with a critical shortage of nurses. Acceptance is competitive and the application is demanding, so understand the service obligation before you apply.

Key Takeaways

• The HRSA Nurse Corps Scholarship Program pays tuition and fees and provides a monthly stipend.
• The application is rigorous, and you must commit to working full-time in a critical shortage area for two years to pay it back.
• Graduates apply for positions of their choice in critical shortage facilities.

Nursing school is expensive, but there are ways to cut the cost down or wipe it out entirely. One of them is the Nurse Corps Scholarship Program.

Administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the program covers tuition, fees, and other educational costs. In return, you agree to work at least two years in a facility where the healthcare workforce shortage is acute. Acceptance is competitive and the application is demanding, so it helps to understand the commitment before you start.

This program was historically underused but more than doubled its participation during the COVID-19 pandemic, growing from 227 accepted students in 2019 to 567 in 2022 (HRSA program data).

What the program is

HRSA is a federal agency that works to bring quality healthcare to the highest-need communities, from rural patients to people awaiting a transplant. The Nurse Corps scholarship sends students to nursing school for free to help close the gap in high-need areas and populations.

Graduates work in an HRSA-designated high-need area: a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA), a Maternity Care Target Area (MCTA), or a Medically Underserved Area or Population (MUA/P).

The scholarship pays tuition and fees and adds a monthly stipend. The entire award is taxable. In exchange, you work full-time in a critical shortage facility for two years after graduation. A critical shortage facility sits in, or is designated as, an HPSA.

Eligibility

You can apply if you:

• Are a U.S. citizen (born or naturalized), a national, or a lawful permanent resident
• Are enrolled in, or accepted into, a professional nursing degree program at an accredited U.S. school of nursing
• Begin classes no later than September 30
• Have no federal judgment liens
• Have no existing service commitment
• Are not overdue on a federal debt

Applying

The application cycle opens annually, typically in spring. Check the HRSA Nurse Corps page for current dates and sign up for email notifications so you do not miss the window. Assembling the documentation can take weeks or months, so start early.

Before you apply, think through the commitment:

• Are you willing and able to relocate to an underserved area and work full-time in a critical shortage facility for two years after graduation?
• You will sign a contract binding you to that obligation.
• The minimum service obligation is two years full-time. Support beyond two years extends the obligation.
• You apply for open positions in the critical shortage facilities you choose.
• You have up to nine months from graduation to get a permanent nursing license, accept an offer, and start full-time work.
• Some participants get part-time status but still owe two years of full-time-equivalent work.
• If you start the program but cannot continue, you submit a written request to terminate and repay everything, including pre-tax tuition and stipends.

The application package is an online form plus supporting documents, including:

• Eligibility screening
• Confirmation of full-time enrollment
• General and background information, including family background, emergency contacts, and education
• Two professional letters of recommendation: one academic, from a faculty advisor or member attesting to your qualifications, and one non-academic, from someone familiar with your community or civic activities, especially in underserved communities
• Supporting documents that may include an authorization to release information, proof of U.S. citizenship or national status, verification of acceptance or enrollment, a current tuition and fee schedule, a completed essay, a resume or CV, and an academic transcript
• Additional documentation if you have an outstanding service obligation to another program

The program lets many students enter nursing by cutting the financial barrier while helping ease the shortage. It suits students with limited financial options, and nurses who would rather work off the obligation in two to three years at a critical shortage facility than spend close to a decade repaying loans.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the scholarship cover? Tuition, required fees, and other reasonable educational costs, plus a monthly living stipend. HRSA notes the entire award is taxable.

How long is the service commitment? A minimum of two years full-time (or part-time equivalent) at an eligible critical shortage facility, with an additional year of service for each scholarship year beyond the first.

Where do I have to work? At an HRSA-designated high-need site: a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA), a Maternity Care Target Area, or a Medically Underserved Area or Population. You apply for open positions at the critical shortage facilities you choose.

Who is eligible? U.S. citizens, nationals, or lawful permanent residents enrolled in or accepted into an accredited U.S. nursing program, with no existing service commitment, no federal judgment liens, and no overdue federal debt.

When does the application open? The cycle typically opens in spring. Check the HRSA Nurse Corps page for current dates, sign up for email alerts, and start gathering documents early, since the package can take weeks or months to assemble.

What happens if I cannot finish the program or service? You submit a written request to terminate and repay everything, including the pre-tax value of tuition and stipends already paid. Treat the commitment as binding before you sign.